No Good Wthout It

Yesterday, my internet was down all day so I wasn’t able to post anything. But that wasn’t the biggest problem. Since the internet was down, my email was down also. All day I had this feeling of confinement. I could have left work and gone outside or actually done some non-modem related work, but no. I sat there feeling trapped like a zoo animal. I sat at my desk all day, pathetically re-trying and re-trying to start the internet. When I got to work today I was relieved to see that the problem had been fixed. I hate to say this but if it wasn’t fixed I probably would’ve wasted another day waiting for it to work instead of doing something else. Is this kind of thing my fault or societies? Since I don’t like taking responsibility I’ll assume its society’s. Yeah, that’s what it is.

Tomorrow I have an interview at Albertson’s. I applied only a couple days ago but I wasn’t too surprised by the quick response. Not because they’re desperate for employees or because I’m such a hot commodity, but because on the application I told them I would work all hours at any position. I know grocery workers make more money than I do but I’m still a little worried. I'm worried because about four or five months ago the Grocery Union went on strike for like three months or something. I don’t know how they compensate for picketing but I would almost rather be a "scab" and get paid than march around a store at $2 an hour. Before I decide what job I’ll take I want to check out a few more places including the local school district. With the district I’d get weekends off, twice the pay of my church job, 9-5 regularity, and hopefully I can get a better-than-average starting position because my grandma worked their for 30 years and was the most loved person in the building. The relation couldn’t hurt, right? Of course whatever job I get would always be my plan B, fallback job. My main aspirations are still being a recording engineer/producer or [knocking on wood] being a part of a successful band. Aside from that all I want to do is start a family and support it. I don’t care how I do it, just as long as I can pay the bills. And I know they’ll be plenty.

Movie: Gattaca

A Begger and A Chooser

So it’s official. I’m moving into an apartment with a couple other guys in late November. As part of my "don’t pay rent" plan, I’m still looking for a place to stay for the next month though. There are a couple of options including either my fiancé’s house or the guitar player of Band B’s house. Both would probably be rent free, but even if they’re not it should be cheaper than living at home. It’s starting to get exciting, all this moving out stuff but I’m still waiting to get totally ready and psyched until I find a place to stay for now. It seems like now that I’m trying to move out everything is getting so expensive. Gas is more expensive now than ever before. Housing costs (including apartment rents) are up. Car insurance costs way more than when any other generation paid for it and nowadays, in CA at least, it’s mandatory! Considering these things as well as a number of other increased costs, I’m looking for a new job.

I found out that what I do at work would normally pay about twice as much anywhere else, but because I work for a church it doesn’t. So I’ve started looking around for new jobs and second jobs but haven’t had any luck yet. If anyone knows someone or is someone who wants to hire a hard working, punctual, very professional office assistant let me know. Preferably, a Southern California job offering full time positions with benefits. What!? I’m not being picky, I’m getting married! I need this more than Ben Affleck needs a hit movie. Yes, that bad.

Another thing I really want is a video game that came out yesterday. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. I do kinda feel like a loser for still playing video games but I feel like even more of a loser because I don’t have this one yet and it’s probably gonna be one of the most popular games this year (aside from Halo 2, maybe). You know when you play a video game and you think to yourself that some parts of the game are cool but other parts suck? Well the GTA series has been making games for many years and each new addition consistently replaces the crappy aspects with awesome aspects. This latest game seems like it’s gonna be about perfect. And I can’t play it. Not yet at least.

I guess I’ll stop short of putting up my entire Christmas List, but sadly these are only a few of the MANY things I wish I had. I hope everyone can feel my pain. If you do please feel free to donate money to me and my cause. You can contribute by cash, check, or any major credit card. For only $200 a day can sponser a poor boy like Travis and keep him rolling in cash, the way he was meant to live. Just click here and ask for more details. It's that easy.

Movie: Minority Report

Not in Time for Anaheim

After all my jabbering about my love of doing live shows yesterday, guess what happened last night? Yeah, I missed the show. This was do to a number of factors. The first; I live 90 miles from Anaheim, the town where we were supposed to play at. On a traffic free day, that’s about and hour and half drive. On a traffic-ridden day, 2-3 hours drive. On a rainy night in a state where drivers don’t see much rain, an eternity. These nut jobs’ brains must be solar powered because as soon as the sun is covered up they disengage all common sense, and drive like 80 year old grannies. Everyone either drives 20 mph or 90mph. There is no medium. On my way down I witnessed 3 hydroplane accidents. Statistically, collisions were up 100% in the last 24 hours. So aside from trying to survive the I-5 Demolition Derby, I was already late because I didn’t get out of work until 5pm and the show started at 7:30pm. Once I was out of work I had to pick up my fiancé, stop by my house, get gas, get in a fight with my fiancé (a whole other story), drop her back off and go to the bank. As much as the freeway was a mess, the city streets are even worse so I wasn’t even on the road until 6pm. I drove all the way there and then the fun began. I finally got there at 8:30. Not bad considering. As I pulled into the parking lot I thought it was strange that none of my surely anxious band mates were outside waiting for me. When I got out of the car I heard the sound of a band playing and in my stupidity was relieved because I thought that meant some other band was playing. I walked up to the box office and explained my situation to the green haired man.
"Hey, I’m in one of the bands. I’m the singer but I’m kinda late."
"Your band just got done playing!"
I assumed he was doing one of those things were you trick someone at first and then when they believe you, you tell them your kidding.
"You’re kidding, right?"
"No, man. They just finished their last song of an instrumental set."
"Oh my gosh…"
"I’ll give you a wrist band if you want."

Thankfully my gracious band was not to pissed off. In trying to make up for it in anyway I could I helped them dismantle the equipment and pack up. I’m an idiot. Oh well. I hear it was a good show. And I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not.

Movie: Big Daddy

It's Raining Rock & Roll

The main event for tonight is that Band B has a show in Anaheim. I’m excited to see how many people show up that only know us from MySpace.com (or maybe because of this site). I’m still not sure how I’m gonna get down there since I have no gas or gas money, but something will happen I’m sure. I usually take three of the amps in my truck when we have shows but since amps are not waterproof, I will not be in charge of that this time. A huge storm is supposed to hit us sometime tonight. It’s kinda weird because although we live in the desert about half of our shows are on rainy nights. We even thought about changing our band’s name due to this incredible fact. I think Cats & Dogs would’ve been a good band name, maybe in the 80’s. Anyway, playing live shows is one of the coolest things I’ve ever done. Even practice is fun when you love the songs you’re playing. It’s so awesome performing songs that are 100% original. Just hearing the music all come together behind you and standing there, completely immersed in the moment. I suggest that everyone be in a band. There is nothing like it. If anyone reads this today and wants to go to the show tonight, let me know and I’ll give you the details.

Speaking of readers, I finally have some! Yes, it’s true. Thanks so much to all of you who have left me comments. I guess that all my begging and pandering really paid off. I know this site isn’t the most exciting blog around but I find it very interesting and relate-able. One of my new favorite blogs is Virtual Nations. It’s by this novelist who’s revealing a chapter per blog of this story he wrote a while ago. Check it out. I’ve said this in the past but now that people may read it I’ll say it again. If anyone knows of a cool site I should visit let me know. If it’s good I’ll mention it and then you’re really on your way aren’t you?

Movie: The Godfather

I was Used

Last night I saw The Used in Ventura. They played great. The opening bands were pretty bad though. I couldn’t even understand the singer of the first band when he said who they were a few times, but they sucked anyway. The second band, Head Automatica were a little better. They all dressed up for the night and played through their 80’s music as best as they could I guess. The third band, Atreyu were loud, but other than that they just sounded like what Story of the Year would sound like if they wrote bad songs. Finally at about 10:45pm The Used came on. They played a great set with an equal balance of new and old songs. My only complaint would be that their set wasn’t long enough (only about 30-45 min., 11 songs + 1 encore song). On the bright side, Bert has really found his voice’s comfort level. He rarely sounded too strained and always went for the high notes. When I finally got home and ate some pizza I only slept for about an hour, but it was well worth it. I strongly suggest you see a date of this tour because The Used is awesome live.


Sorry about the small update today, but I’m tired and I have to get back to work. Check out some of the band’s sites. Maybe you’ll like the opening bands and there’s nothing at all wrong with that. It just means you have lousy taste in music. How about a comment telling me what music you do like.

Movie: Snatch

Ticket to Nowhere

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I think no one even reads this stuff. I have even requested readers’ responses to certain topics but not a word. The last time I said this I got three responses so I thought I maybe had a small audience, but never since. I want to try and get anyone to say anything in the response section, anything at all. Just prove that you’re out there. This may seem like a desperate attempt, and that’s because it is. If you have a blog/website of your own, tell me where it is. If there is a particular web site you like, tell me about it. If there is a certain movie that you love/hate/think I should see, tell me what it is. If you think I suck balls, tell me. Don’t be confused, however. These are only a few of the infinite reasons you could comment on this update. The only thing I’m asking is that you comment. Please!

Anyway, the verdict is in. Total cost to live at home: $300 a month!!!!!! Oh well. What can you do? I’m trying not to care because it won’t change a thing. I’m just glad that I make an extra $300 a month now by babysitting those kids. This just means I won’t be able to save as much as I had hoped. It’s retarded because my parents are so incapable of handling my getting married that they are trying to dump all this "maturity" on me that they think I don’t understand. "How can I ever support a family when I’m so terrible at being responsible?" I guess this is what happens when you out stay your welcome at home. I always knew this would happen, I just was hoping they would wait a couple more months. When they told me they didn’t even know how to do it like normal people so the tone was, "Your in trouble," and (as all my family talks go) was followed by a life lesson. Thanks guys. I’ll remember this lesson all my life, especially when it’s my turn to take care of you. Bastards.

Before I start crying I guess I’ll tell you about something else. Yesterday I had traffic school. This day of school was all started long ago in May when I got my very first ticket. Band B had just finished playing a show down in L.A.. The show went pretty well and we were all packed up and ready to head home. As I pulled out of the parking lot of the club I "Failed to Yield" to an oncoming car. Fortunately both of our vehicles were not moving very fast so as soon as I realized what I had done I quickly reversed out of the other car’s way. No harm, no foul, right? Nope. Because the car directly behind the first one carried a couple of L.A.’s finest Peace Officers. They immediately pulled me over and began the long and drawn out process of ticket writing. The good cop/bad cop team surrounded my car and Mr. Hard Ass gave me the low down.
"License and registration and proof of insurance?"
"I only have my license because I just bought this car. I have this temporary registration until my real one comes from the DMV."
Apparently his dumb ass had never seen this kind of thing before.
"I don’t know what this is. You’ll have to take that up with the judge. What about your insurance?"
"I have insurance but I don’t have the insurance card. They haven’t mailed it to me yet."
"What do you mean?" he said with an empty expression on his face, "They give it to you when you get insurance."
This went on for a minute or two until he just gave up trying to understand this complex idea and handed me a ticket for failure to yield, driving without current registration, and driving without insurance. When the ticket came in the mail it added up to over $1000 worth of criminality. Five months later I am finally free of this headache and traffic school was the easiest part. Yes, this is my life.

Movie: Identity

Indecision 2004

Well, it’s been another busy week at work, hence the lack of updates. There have been, however, a few interesting developments in my life recently. Yesterday I started helping this lady with her kids in the mornings. Monday through Friday I get to their house around 6:15am, wake them up, feed them breakfast, make their lunches and take them to school. I’m done by 8:00am and get paid $75 a week. Not to bad, especially since the kids are real cool. The money may come in handy when I have to start paying for rent to live at home. I still can’t believe my parents are gonna do that but whatever. I should be moving out soon anyway.

Something else that gets annoying is the constant barrage of commercials on TV reminding me to vote. They don’t care whom I vote for, as long as I vote. Every 15 seconds some celebrity with a catchy election phrase is telling me not to let my rights go to waste. They say I shouldn’t let someone else make decisions for me. Like my voting for Kerry is gonna change a single thing in the world. Wether Kerry wins or Bush wins, I can guarantee you that nothing will change. We will still be in an economic slump, gas prices will continue to rise, soldiers will continue to die, and my life will still be the same. The only one who can change my life, regardless of what person is president, is myself. If I want to be rich and succesful, that’s up to me. If I wanna shoot heroin and be a bum, that’s my choice too. No president is gonna save me.

If I ever get rich and famous enough, and have a "podium" to tell people about the election I would tell them the truth. This country is the best you’re gonna find anywhere in the world. That is a fact. But if you don’t like how much prescription drugs cost there’s only one thing to do, make more money. Do you really think that voting "makes your voice heard" or "let’s you speak your mind"? Of course not. It just gets some guy in the white house who already has his own agenda and no matter what he told you on the campaign trail about health care reform, he’s gonna do what he wants cause he’s in charge now, not you.

Sorry about the cynical rant but it just pisses me off. The point; Don’t vote. Exercise your right to not be heard, because the truth is no one’s listening. You know who does care? I do, really. So tell me about it.

Movie: Phenomenon